From childhood, he knew that if Qiao Ci didn't want to say something, he would never find out, such as Kusui powder.
Anything Qiao Ci wanted to know, she would tell him without him asking.
In the evening, Lan Ye personally prepared a sumptuous dinner. After Qiao Ci had eaten her fill, Lan Ye cleared the dishes and sat with Qiao Ci to watch her favorite TV drama. "By the way, I have a question for you," Qiao Ci suddenly said. "Sister, ask away." Lan Ye sat up straight, looking like he was listening intently.
"What type of girl do you like?" Qiao Ci's eyes remained fixed on the television, as if asking a casual question.
Lan Ye dared not look directly at his own thoughts and evasively replied, "Any girl will do."
???
Only then did Qiao Ci shift her gaze to Lan Ye. "That simple? Any girl? Doesn't she have to be alive too?"
"Yes," Lan Ye actually nodded.
...
Qiao Ci looked at him meaningfully. "Then why haven't you had a sweet campus romance like other boys all these years?"
"My studies come first. Besides, they are humans, and I am a merman. Our races are different, so I wouldn't consider it." Lan Ye shrugged.
While he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was in a panic!
Did Qiao Ci think like his classmates' parents?
As soon as he got into university, they urged their sons to hook up with older women, preferably bringing one home for Chinese New Year to save face and look impressive?
He didn't want to date across species!
No, he had never even considered dating.
Over the years, he had worked hard to be a good child in Qiao Ci's eyes: studying hard, eating well, sleeping well, being obedient, and excelling.
At the same time, he also had to take care of Qiao Ci's daily life. Where would he find time to think about all that nonsense?
Being asked by Qiao Ci, his heart was filled with frustration, but he didn't dare to show it. He could only use their differing species as an excuse, hoping that Qiao Ci would quickly dismiss the idea of him finding a girlfriend.
"Oh." Qiao Ci uttered a faint "oh" and continued watching the TV.
Lan Ye thought he had gotten away with it, when Qiao Ci's voice drifted over again, "Then what type of merman do you like?"
???
!!!
Lan Ye's expression was hard to describe. Wasn't this the same question as before?
Knowing that he couldn't easily get away with it this time, Lan Ye perfunctorily stated a few conditions: "Someone more beautiful than you, with higher magic than you, a better personality than you, and who cares about me more than you do..."
Lan Ye silently thought that such a merman probably didn't exist.
He subconsciously ignored why he was comparing them to Qiao Ci.
Little Spoon was almost laughing its head off in the system space. "Hahaha, he's only missing saying he likes you. Oh my, this is too funny~"
"...Uh!"
The moment he finished speaking, Little Spoon felt darkness engulf its vision.
It was over, he'd been locked in the dark room again!
As expected, gossiping was fine, but you couldn't mock the cub, boohoo...
Why could he never grasp the right degree inside? Now he couldn't even watch the show!
Regret, he always regretted it after being glib!!!
Qiao Ci looked at Lan Ye and found his evasive eyes amusing, so she slowly analyzed, "Mermen are generally exceptionally beautiful. You are the Sea Emperor, so it's easy for you to find someone more beautiful than me."
"The part about magic being higher than mine is also very simple. I'm just not afraid of Kusui powder; in reality, my magic is only average."
"As for personality, mermaids have all sorts of personalities; there's no shortage of those with good temperaments. I believe you'll have many choices."
"Of course, those who care about you are as numerous as carp crossing a river, especially since you are the Sea Emperor."
Lan Ye: ...Suddenly, he didn't want to inherit the position of Sea Emperor anymore.
Lan Ye's mind was in a mess. He didn't know how to express to Qiao Ci that he didn't like other girls and never would. He could only remain silent.
Meanwhile, Xue Ying, who had been kept like a canary by Chen Ning for over ten years, had become somewhat aged.
She had indeed lost the endless lifespan of a merman and had begun to age slowly like a human. Looking at the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, she couldn't help but bury her face in the dressing table and weep silently.
After Qiao Ci left, Chen Ning had been busy treating his legs. Later, finding no success, he became dispirited and even occasionally blamed her, saying that if it weren't for her, he wouldn't have provoked Qiao Ci, and thus Qiao Ci wouldn't have broken his legs.
Xue Ying really wanted to retort; she hadn't asked Chen Ning to deal with Qiao Ci, but seeing Chen Ning unable to walk, she couldn't bring herself to say it. She could only bear his complaints and... beatings in silence.
Chen Ning, whose temper grew increasingly volatile, was a distinguished disabled person in front of outsiders but a complete brute at home. Ever since he slapped her for the first time and she didn't resist, he had become increasingly abusive towards her...
Each time after hitting her, he would kneel and beg for her forgiveness...
Xue Ying hadn't thought about leaving him, but she loved him too much. Even though he beat her, she was willing to stay by his side and become his spiritual pillar.
Moreover, if she left him, she would have nothing.
The only fortunate thing was that he only had her as his woman. Even though he had some difficulties in that regard, he still enjoyed being close to her.
However, after shopping and looking at her gradually aging face, Xue Ying fell into deep fear.
Just then, a series of suppressed growls echoed from the room she shared with Chen Ning...
Seemingly mixed with faint cries...
Xue Ying felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She sprang up and stormed towards the room in anger.
In the room were the ordinary-looking maidservants of the household and... her boyfriend, who still hadn't married her, Chen Ning.
"Chen Ning, how could you do this to me!!!" Xue Ying, stimulated, lunged at Chen Ning's face like a madwoman. The mobility-impaired Chen Ning was directly scratched by her, leaving several bloody marks on his face.
The maidservant beside them was terrified. She quickly put on her clothes and was about to leave. Xue Ying dropped Chen Ning, grabbed the maidservant's hair, and pulled it forcefully. Then, she grabbed the maidservant's neck, choking her tightly, slowly tightening her grip.
"Xue Ying, have you had enough of this drama!" Chen Ning, covering his face, looked at the疯子-like Xue Ying in disbelief. "I was drunk, and besides, what rich man doesn't have several women? Hurry and let her go. If you choke her to death, I'll be in trouble!"
Xue Ying let out a sinister laugh. "Hahaha, Chen Ning, I lost everything for you, and you dare to betray me? How dare you, hahaha..."
Xue Ying no longer knew what she was doing; her mind was blank. She wanted to vent all the fear and anger in her heart!!!
Her gaze turned icy as she looked at the fruit knife nearby...